Introduction to The Prince Hitachi Prize for Comparative Oncology


The Prince Hitachi Prize for Comparative Oncology was established on November 28, 1995 by the Japanese Foundation for Cancer Research in commemoration of the sixtieth birthday of His Imperial Highness Prince Hitachi and his long devotion to cancer research. The Prize is administered by the Foundation’s Prince Hitachi Prize for Comparative Oncology Committee and is awarded to promote research in cancer and related fields.

Prince Hitachi, after graduation from Gakushuin University, continued his study of cell biology at the Zoological Department of the University of Tokyo from 1958 to 1969. From June 1969, he first studied chemical carcinogenesis and then comparative oncology of lower animals (especially fish and frogs) at the Cancer Institute of the Japanese Foundation for Cancer Research as a guest researcher. The Prince became a member of the Japanese Cancer Association in February 1970 and has presented his works at the annual meetings of the Association almost every year since then. He has also been a corresponding member of the American Association for Cancer Research since May 1977 and has published more than forty papers in English. Since January 2001, Prince Hitachi has been Honorary President of the Japanese Foundation for Cancer Research.

The Prince Hitachi Prize is awarded for notable work within the field of cancer research defined as being the same one in which the Prince has been studying; namely, comparative oncology and related subjects. Research in this field is the basis of cancer and biology studies and its progress is highly desirable.

Professor Vera Gorbunova and Associate Professor Andrei Seluanov have been selected as the Awardees of the Prize for 2014. Both doctors jointly analyzed fibroblasts of the Naked Mole Rat which is known for having a long and cancer-free life, and clarified the cancer resistance properties and mechanisms of this rodent’s cells in culture. Their important work makes a valuable contribution to research on cancer prevention and life longevity.

Outline of the Prince Hitachi Prize for Comparative Oncology


The crest and the symbol tree of the Prince Hitachi Family are depicted.
The tree is the Ogatama-no-ki (Michelia compressa Maxim. a kind of Magnolia).
The Chinese characters at the center are read the Prince Hitachi Prize for
Comparative Oncology.

The Prince Hitachi Prize for Comparative Oncology was instituted in 1995 by the Japanese Foundation for Cancer Research to promote research in cancer and related fields, in commemoration of the sixtieth birthday of Prince Hitachi and his longtime devotion to cancer research. The prize is administered by the Foundation's Prince Hitachi Prize for Comparative Oncology Committee.

The Prize will be awarded in accordance with the following:

  1. The Prize shall be awarded by the Committee every year, commencing in 1996.
  2. The Prize shall consist of a certificate of merit, a medal, a commemorative vase and prize money of one million Yen.
  3. The Prize shall normally be awarded to one individual. In the event of two or more individuals being selected, each shall receive a certificate, a medal, a commemorative vase and an equal share of the prize money.
  4. The Prize shall be awarded to an individual or individuals who, in the judgement of the members of the Committee, has made an outstanding contribution to the advancement of research in comparative oncology and related research fields.
  5. The Committee shall establish a Selection Committee and a Funding Committee.
  6. The Committee shall be advised on suitable candidates for the Prize by the Selection Committee.
  7. The Selection Committee shall invite nominations of candidates from individuals and organizations at home and abroad.
  8. The nomination shall consist of:
    1. The full name, date of birth, nationality and address of the candidate.
    2. The candidate's academic or professional qualifications and position.
    3. A brief statement (1 or 2 pages) describing the candidate's achievements in relation to the objective of the Prize.
    4. The name of the individual or institution making the nomination.
  9. The Prize shall be presented in Tokyo in spring every year. The awardee and his or her spouse shall be invited to attend the presentation ceremony at the expense of the Committee.
  10. The Funding Committee shall invite contributions for the Prize.

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Presentation Ceremony of the 2018 Prince Hitachi Prize for Comparative Oncology
May 29, 2018
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The 20th Anniversary of The Prince Hitachi Prize for Comparative Oncology
April 20, 2018
PDF 20MB